Interesting Bear Situation

[DaveT]

#5259

Hello guys and this is my first post on this site. Great site and enjoy all the tips. I wanted to get some opinions on this particular situation.

I live in North Georgia and while bear scouting yesterday I came upon 3 different bears in course of a few hours of scouting. All where in white oaks and all shooters. I also ran another out as well that was just out of site but heard it come out of the trees. These bears were not together but all several hundred yards from each other along a ridge line. The area consists of probably a 1/2 to 3/4 mile of ridgeline full of white oaks that is getting destroyed by the bears. I have never seen sign like this before. The hike is very steep so I really would rather not bring a tree stand in so plan to be hunting from the ground. 2 of the bears I saw I could have probably gotten a shot at if I was hunting. I am thinking of just getting into the around at dawn and hunting all day alternating b/w sitting in makeshift ground blinds and some still hunting.. Since there are so many trees getting hit it seems like it would be hard to just pinpoint one spot with a tree stand anyway. Do any of ya’ll hunt from the ground for bears? What would you guys do in this situation? Also anybody have any suggestions when the bears are up in the trees like this? I’m thinking just trying to wait them out until they climb down but I guess I could just treat them like a giant squirrel if I have to.

[rayborbon]

#38867

I’d still hunt the ridge. Using the mobile or makeshift ground blinds is not a bad idea at all. Quietly and slowly walk through the target area and then periodically crouch or sit and wait for movement or animal sounds. If you have seen that many bears in a short time I think it will work out for you. Especially since it is a hard area to get access to. That’s one of the reasons the bears are probably there. Besides using the trees for a scratching post and to chew on. 😆

I have never hunted bears any other way besides on the ground. Getting the last few yards to the bear seems to be the hardest part sometimes. Depending on the terrain and how loud the foliage is on the ground as well as the wind. Sometimes waiting to see if the bear will come near you is a good idea too.

Good luck.

[LanceColeman]

#38879

Dave,

I live and hunt in North Ga. I see Bears in trees all the time. Whiteoaks aren’t raining to the ground right now. So unlike Deer, bear can go to the acorns instead of waiting. There’s several ridges I can take you to that have both whiteoaks and hickories, short, knurled and broken because of years and years of Bears climbing them for acrons and breaking branches. (BTW pretty spooky when one comes climbing/freefalling out of a whiteoak with bark flying everywhere when ya spook em aint it?)

Bears noses are hard to beat. remember the rule of thermals if you plan on ground hunting and play the ridge to your advantage (set up on the side that gives you the best wind)

Unfortunately I can’t help you on the ground versus tree bnecause I carry a tree stand in with me. Yes itsa hassle, yes it’s even more of a hassle when you have to get it and game out. But I enjoy that hassle and have learned in these mountains with these winds I get to be involved in that hassle alot more when I’m up a tree. That said it’s not impossible and if you can get around their nose, they’re easier to take from the ground than a deer (eyesight not nearly as good) I had a lil 100#er walk within 10 feet of me on the ground last year. I was sitting on a rock base about 4′ off the ground with my form obscurred from skyline.

They’ll stay in those oaks until they tear off all the easy limbs or it starts raining acorns. If you’ve saw that many on a single ridge you should be able to find the bear trail. It’s flat like somethings been rolled down it as opposed to chopped up from deer hooves, sometimes it will have depressions in it where they put their feet in the same spot everytime (bears are bad creatures of routine and habit) And should be sort of ebedded in to the ground like it’s been used for many many years.

Use it. Get an ambush on it or pick a tree to watch or find a happy medium which gives you both.. Trust me the bears use it.

Right now you should be able to walk fairly quietly. I spent the most part of today walking mountains and most the leaf litter is decomposed and not too dry. Granted once leaves start to fall you may as well walk on cornflakes.

Hopes this helps and if you have any other questions I’d be happy to try and help.

[DaveT]

#39386

Thanks guys for the tips guys.

Lance…. the trails along the ridge were very worn out so it’s pretty easy to see how they are traveling. I had never seen a bear actually up in a tree until the other day then see 3 different ones! I am so excited for next weekend. The second bear I saw was very mad at me and wouldn’t leave the tree. He was woofing at me and I finally had to yell at him to get him to move. Even then he just kind of climbed down then waddled off. I could have probably just shot him while in the tree. I was only about 25 yards and I could have gotten closer. He was a good one…I’m guessing a couple hundred pounds at least. The sign in this area is breathtaking. Literally well over 50 or more trees over a 1/2 mile of ridge just destroyed. Looks like for the most part the white oaks have failed up high but I found this group at about 3000 feet up to 3500 feet. Based on the sigh it is hard to tell how many bears are working this area but I saw 3 and heard one more so at least 4. I have some pics I’ll try to post later.

I might bring a lock on up there at some point but there is just so much sign that I would prefer to be more mobile. I don’t have allot of bear experience but seems to me you can hunt them allot like hogs. Find a hot area and just kind of be there quietly and downwind….then spot and stalk. But I’ve never shot a bear so what do I know:D

Thank you so much for the tips and please keep them coming.

[LanceColeman]

#39752

Yes his eyesight is real close to that of a hogs. If you’re total camo and still he’ll overlook you fairly easily. but move quickly and he’ll catch you. Sound like you’ve also found a teenager. Teenagers are these 125-200# young bears that think they own he woods. They like to pop jaws, growl, woof and try and bluff you. Be careful around them. Most of them are all bark and no bite. But you have to remember basically what you are dealing with is a 200# boar coon. I’ve watched bears instantly kill good solid gritty hog dogs that didn’t know they were supposed to leave bears alone.

We definately have no shortage of bears. We haven’t for quite some time now. Why DNR is so nitpicky over them is a mystery to me. One Biologist told me that once a mature bear learns how to hunt them it can decimate up to 60% of the fawn population in it’s area (and this is why there’s so many bears and so few deer high up in the national forest)

I had 15 sightings totalling 11 different bear in 3 days of hunting last year. The one MY wife killed had an identical twin with it when she shot hers. I could have killed it but I let it walk (mistake) Hers was enough trouble to get out of the woods. There’s another consideration. Imagine trying to pull/carry/drag 250#s of jello in a trash bag out of the mountains. It was a mistake because for the rest of deer season every time I turned around I was seeing this bear, rolling around in leaves, busting hickory nuts in his jaws and making so much noise that no good deer in it’s right mind would have came within a mile of the place.

There’s a fella here I know that gets his bear every year with a muzzle loader and he kills it by glassing trees early season. He likes to bascially hunt them like you would hunt a squirrel. Once he locates them in the tree he quietly stalks to within shooting distance of the base of the tree. He told me he usually waits until they climb down to change trees and just watches them for a spell. But he said he’s also been known to shoot one out of the tree and watch him fall to the ground. Told me a 250#er makes an awful big thud when it falls from 50′ up.

[DaveT]

#48867

Guys I would like to thank everyone for the tips. I hunted the area discussed in North Georgia on Saturday and got one:D!! It was a 150# sow bear. I was still hunting and stalked it while it was in the tree and shot it at 20 yards as it was coming back down at the bottom of the white oak. It was the 8th bear I saw that day and one of the most incredible days in the field I have every had. I posted the picture under the photo section.

[LanceColeman]

#49999

Alright dave!! way to go Man!! That is truly impressive and as I know the terrain you were hunting thats a feat within itself (especially getting it out!).

Were you one of the 9 bears that Frank Manning checked in over the weekend?? Can’t miss Frank. DNR…… blonde hair about 300#s

[DaveT]

#50019

Thanks Lance…..yes Frank checked me out on Saturday. He is a great guy and have known him for quite some time. This year is nuts with the #’s of bears. Saturday morning this bear was the 8th bear I saw! I saw 3 juvenile bears (50-60 lbs), a BIG unidentified bear walked by me at 20 yards in a thicket but no shot. 1 Sow with little Cub and I got within 6 yards of a another marginal shooter (70- 80 pounds or so) but didn’t want to cut it that close. Then was able to get up on the one I got around noon. When I saw Frank I think I was #2 so I can’t believe he checked that many over the weekend. Going to be a big year for bears I’ll bet. Nice job by the way on the deer you got opening day….I saw it over on GON Forum. Sure is nice to start the season off quick:D! I am going to try to go back up there with my dad to help him get one if possible. I told him I would drag it for him if he gets one:shock:. I wish I hadn’t said that.

[Mark Turton]

#52156

Hi Dave T

Just looked at your pic in the gallery, nice bear, congratulations.

Good luck to your dad, Mark.

[LanceColeman]

#53307

Dave,

As of tuesday 50 had been checked total for northern zone. I’ve let one beast walk (had no intentions of dealing with a bear that size in there.), and almost walked straight in to a drop dead georguos 200-220#er in a rain storm wed. I would LIKE to stay my course and kill another deer or two before they get on my nerves too bad. But considering one ate the seat out of my treestand Wed afternoon and I sat for 6 hours on nothing but two straps?? They’re starting to make me wanna expose lung tissue on them now.

[MontanaFord]

#53864

Lance,

Quit eating venison the night before you hunt, and the bears might leave your seat alone. LOL. You know they’re scavengers and will readily eat decayed meat.

Michael

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